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Interpretive Summary: Turkmenistan has a rich tradition of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) production, but like in many countries land races and old varieties are in danger of genetic erosion. In July-August 2008, a collaborative Turkmenistan–United States germplasm expedition to all welayats (states) of Turkmenistan collected 96 melon and watermelon cultigens (land races, old and new varieties, and selections) from farmers, selectionists, breeders, wholesale fruit markets and a seed dealer. The melon portion (74 accessions) included 60 distinct cultigens, including eight in duplicate, plus an unnamed one from a seed dealer. The watermelon portion (22 accessions) included 19 cultigens, including two in duplicate, plus one unnamed one from a seed dealer. Seeds of each accession were divided between the Turkmenistan Institute for Desert, Flora and Fauna, and the United States Dept. of Agric., National Plant Germplasm System. Opportunities for collaborative disease and insect control research were identified.

Technical Abstract: Turkmenistan has a rich tradition of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) production, but like in many countries land races and old varieties are in danger of genetic erosion. In July-August 2008, a collaborative Turkmenistan–United States germplasm expedition to all welayats (states) of Turkmenistan collected 96 melon and watermelon cultigens (land races, old and new varieties, and selections) from farmers, selectionists, breeders, wholesale fruit markets and a seed dealer. The melon portion (74 accessions) included 60 distinct cultigens, including eight in duplicate, plus an unnamed one from a seed dealer. The watermelon portion (22 accessions) included 19 cultigens, including two in duplicate, plus one unnamed one from a seed dealer. Seeds of each accession were divided between the Turkmenistan Institute for Desert, Flora and Fauna, and the United States Dept. of Agric., National Plant Germplasm System. Opportunities for collaborative disease and insect control research were identified.